The Snows and China

Lu Cui (Student leader of Dec. 9, 1935 Movement):

The Kuomintang government dared not to act against foreigners. Snow's home became a safe zone. At that time, students would gather and meet in his home. It soon became a meeting place and shelter for them.

A patriotic demonstration against the Japanese invasion broke out among students in Peking on December 9, 1935.

An Wei:

Those statements, announcements and slogans were all designed, translated, printed and stored away in Snow's home. The demonstration route was planned ahead and disclosed to foreign journalists by the Snows as well.

In the spring of 1936, Edgar Snow asked Song Qingling, his old friend, to arrange a visit for him to the Soviet Area in northern Shaanxi.

Prof. Yin Junsheng (Central China Normal University):

Edgar and Helen both thought that Soong Chingling and Lu Xun had influenced them greatly. They compared Soong to a glowing lotus in the East, and to a Statue of Liberty that stood on the coast of the East.

They also said that Lu Xun was the key to understanding China.

An Wei:

Even Edgar's visit to northern Shaanxi in 1936 was urged by Helen. He was hesitant to go. But his wife was really persistent in convincing him that he had to be there because the Soviet area was going to make the most important headlines in the world.

George Hatem (Former doctor for the Red Army):

We had to break through three barricades. The first barricade was set by local plain-clothed detectives in Shaanxi. The second, by the Blue Shirts, and the third, by the regular police. They all stopped us on our way.

N: Having broken through all the barricades, Edgar Snow and George Hatem rode to the Soviet Area on mules, and Snow became the first journalist from the West to be in the Soviet areas in Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia. (pause!)Zhou Enlai, the would-be Premier of China, drafted a 92-day interview schedule for Snow. Just three days after Edgar’s arrival, Mao Zedong, the leader of the Communist Party of China, met with Edgar Snow.

Prof. Yin Junsheng (Central China Normal University)

After an interview, Snow asked Mao, “Can I take a picture of you?” They went out of the cave-house and began to make preparations. For Mao's hair was quite long then, Snow perhaps thought Mao looked more like an intellectual or a poet, rather than like a military commander with great power. Being quick-witted, Snow took off his own army hat and put it on Mao.

This was how that famous picture was taken in which Comrade Mao Zedong appeared with the Red Army hat.

Helen later commented that this picture was simply a masterpiece: it was the most printed and published in the world, and so even those classics of the Renaissance could hardly match it. Leaders of the Red Army trusted Edgar Snow as a truth-telling journalist from the West. Mao Zedong and Snow had heir interviews in barely decorated cave-houses.

Prof. Yin Junsheng :

After several days of conversations, Snow was probably influenced by Mao's charisma, and suddenly raised the question of his past. At first, Mao did not consider it necessary to have a personal biography, an said, “I am just one drop in a huge sea. I have told you enough about the policy of our party and the Soviet Area. There is no need to talk of myself.” Snow was quite smart and could persuade with a kind of agitation and exaggeration, Mr. Mao, there are many rumours about you. Someone said you were an ignorant countryman. Some said you were a French-speaking intellectual. Some people even said you were dying of lung disease. Others also described you as having a swagger. Don't you think it is necessary to clear yourself of these ridiculous rumours?” Mao was reluctant at first to answer, but he was surprised by Edgar's words, and he finally said, "I have no idea why people are interested in guessing about me. Even my Chinese is not good, and how could I speak French? Alright, let me share with you my life stories." Snow was wildly excited, and said, "That's what I want!"